Week 4: Chapter 10 - Beginning and Ending the Speech

A major function of the conclusion of a speech of persuasion is to reinforce the audience's commitment to the central

Blank 1: idea

Annie is giving a speech on the dangers of drinking and driving and wants to end on an especially dramatic note to reinforce the serious consequences. Which of the following is a dramatic statement that fits Annie's goal?

Maybe you think you can get away with drunk driving, but you can't. Just hope you're caught before you hurt someone.

Which of the following can be used to nonverbally signal the end of a speech?

Rhythm Pacing of the voice Tone

What are reasons that speakers should pause for a moment after using a rhetorical question?

The pause adds dramatic impact. The pause gives the question time to sink in.

Cassidy has started discussing the first main point of her speech on growing orchids, but during the introduction she did not tell her listeners what the topic is. Which of the following statements is likely true about the audience?

-The audience will not try to put much effort into following the speech.-The audience will be confused about what they are being told.

What is a conclusion in which the speech builds to a peak of power and intensity?

A crescendo ending

Which of the following types of stories would be effective for use in the introduction to a speech?

A story about how a group you were with on a trip saved someone from serious injury or death A story about how you learned something surprising about someone close to you A little-told story about how someone who is now famous overcame difficulties to achieve success

Svetlana is giving a speech in which she advocates for an increase in the US budget for foreign aid. Which of the following speech openers would be a good way for her to capture her audience's attention?

According to Chris Santos, a researcher for the World Food Organization, almost 500 million people depend on foreign aid.

Mei is giving a speech on caring for dogs. She has finished speaking on her final main point. Which of the following would be a good choice of words for Mei to signal that her speech is about to end?

As I've discussed in this speech, caring for a dog includes feeding it quality food, grooming it regularly, and taking the time to exercise it. Let me end by saying that a dog can be an excellent addition to your family if you take the time to properly care for it.

Andre is almost finished with his speech on the importance of racially and ethnically inclusive politics. Which of the following would be an example of an effective concluding statement?

As Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, '"We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."

Which of the following are recommended guidelines for the preparation of a speech introduction?

Be creative and experiment with two or three different openings. Keep the introduction relatively brief. Make note of any possible introductory materials you see during research.

Morgan begins her speech by saying, "In Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says, 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' When she says this, what she means is that the names of things do not matter. What really matters is what things are. I believe this same concept can be applied to dogs. A lot of people automatically say that pit bulls are dangerous without taking their training or individual personalities into account." What tactic has Morgan used to capture her audience's attention?

Beginning with a brief quotation

How does a speaker typically gain the initial attention of the audience?

By patiently looking directly at the audience before beginning to speak By being introduced and stepping to a lectern

Katya is giving a speech about her passion for raising chickens to a group of gardeners in the city where she lives, and she is deciding what to say in the introduction to her speech. Which of the following would likely gain the attention of the audience by directly relating her topic to them?

Chickens help get rid of insects and other garden pests. Composted chicken manure serves as an excellent fertilizer.

Trey plans to give a speech on the sophisticated measures used to make money difficult to counterfeit. He has prepared slides to show several features, including watermarks and color-shifting ink, that help identify real money. In addition to these slides, which of following is a visual aid that Trey might consider as an appropriate opener in his introduction to get the attention of his audience?

Close-up, side-by-side photographs of a real $100 bill and a counterfeit $100 bill

Which of the following is not one of the objectives of the introduction of a speech?

Developing main points with examples and research

What is a recommended guideline to follow when starting your speech?

Don't start talking immediatley

Xander is giving a speech on the negative effects of caffeine. He knows that most of his listeners are daily coffee or tea drinkers and that they will resist his suggestions to cut back on caffeine. Which of the following statements would be an effective way for Xander to establish goodwill in the introduction to his speech?

Don't worry, I'm not going to suggest cutting out caffeine altogether. I would never make you give up your morning cup of coffee.

Which of the following are tips for preparing the conclusion of a speech?

End strongly. Work out your conclusion in detail. Do not be long-winded.

True or false: Concluding a speech with a dramatic statement will confuse the audience into thinking that the speech continues.

False

True or false: Visual aids in a speech should be used only while presenting the main points in the body of the speech.

False

Pablo is giving a speech on his favorite book. He finishes his presentation by saying, "The finesse with which the author handled the conflict between the two main characters really solidified The Hidden Mind as my favorite book. William Caller is obviously a talented writer whose work will continue to entertain and challenge readers." Why is Pablo's conclusion not effective?

He did not signal the end of the speech.

Megan is giving a speech on the best way to bathe a dog. Which of the following statements would provide the most effective way for her to open her speech and capture the audience's attention?

How many of you have ever owned a dog that got dirty?

Where should the importance of your topic be stated to gain the interest of the audience?

In the introduction of your speech

Mari gives the following introduction for her speech on Yellowstone National Park: "I love the outdoors. Have you ever just sat outside and listened to the birds? It's extremely peaceful and a great way to unwind after a long week at work or school. A park, particularly a national park with a campground, is a perfect place to get out and enjoy the outdoors." Which of the following is true of Mari's introduction?

It does not reveal the topic.

Which of the following is not a true statement about the conclusion of a speech?

It is the part of the speech in which a speaker should try to establish rapport with the audience.

Which of the following are reasons to use the conclusion to reinforce your speech's central idea?

It will strengthen the audience's commitment to the central idea. It will make the last impression forceful and favorable. It will increase the audience's understanding.

For her preview statement in a speech on credit card debt, Michelle said, "I have struggled, as I'm sure others in this group have, with credit card debt, and that is what I wish to speak about this morning. Credit card debt is one of the major problems facing the American consumer today. According to government sources, the credit card delinquency rate (that is, the percentage of credit card holders more than 90 days late in their payments) has risen 15% this year." Which of the following is a typical function of a preview statement that Michelle did not provide?

Listing the main points of the speech

Which of the following is not a tip for preparing the conclusion of your speech?

Prepare a long conclusion.

During her introduction Irene says, "Today I would like to discuss tips for building an audience for your blog, including choosing relevant and interesting material, participating in the blogging community, and getting others to link to your content." What has Irene accomplished?

Previewed the body of her speech

What are major functions of the conclusion of a speech?

Reinforcing the audience's understanding of the central idea Letting the audience know you are ending the speech

Juan is speaking at a senior center about the advantages of buying items online. Knowing that many of his listeners no longer drive, Juan makes a point of mentioning in his introduction that buying online is convenient and eliminates the need to go to a store. What technique for capturing his audience's attention has Juan used?

Relating the topic to the audience

Misty begins her conclusion by saying, "My purpose today has been to explain the benefits of eating organic produce. As you might know, these benefits extend not only to you but also to the environment." How is Misty's conclusion effective in cuing the audience that her speech is about to end?

She starts off with the phrase "my purpose today has been."

What are common ways of using the introduction to keep the attention of the audience?

State the importance of the topic. Arouse the curiosity of the audience. Startle the audience.

What is the name of the element of a conclusion that spells out what the central idea and the main points of the speech were?

Summary

If you were giving a speech on prostate cancer, which of the following would be a good way to begin the speech and capture the audience's attention?

Telling a story about someone who has suffered from the illness

Which part of a speech establishes rapport with the audience and boosts the speaker's confidence if done effectively?

The introduction

What are recommended guidelines for using visual aids in the introduction of a speech?

They should relate directly to the speech topic. They should be in good taste. They should be chosen strategically

Chati is giving a speech about food from Thailand, where he was born. His audiences consists of his classmates, most of whom grew up in the United States. He introduces the lecture by mentioning that one of the foods he misses most from Thailand is a fruit called durian. He says, "Many people from Southeast Asia, me included, call durian the king of fruits, both because of its large size and its delicious flavor. However, the sharp spikes covering its skin is not the reason why durian is banned from hotels and public transportation in some places." What is Chati's purpose with this introduction?

To arouse the curiosity of his listeners to gain their attention

Which of the following is a major objective of the introduction of a classroom speech?

To reveal the topic

True or false: You should practice the delivery of the conclusion.

True

Which of the following are effective delivery cues recommended for speakers to signal that their speech is about to end?

Using the voice to build to a high point Fading away or dissolving

Ending with ______ is the most effective option for reinforcing the central idea in the conclusion of a speech.

a quotation

Ahn begins her speech by saying, "Most of us have, at one time or another, belonged to a group that felt like family. This group probably had certain expectations for how you acted, maybe what you wore, even what you believed. But did this group dictate your every move? Did other members try to stop you from talking to your family or forbid you from going home? For five years my cousin Deidre experienced control like this. Who would impose these kinds of rules on another person? The answer: a cult." Ahn has captured her audience's attention by appealing to their

curiosity.

You should establish ______ in the introduction of the speech.

goodwill

The audience's perception of whether the speaker has the best interests of the audience in mind is called

goodwill.

A ______ statement identifies the main points to be discussed in the body of a speech.

preview

If you begin your speech by startling your audience with a provocative or shocking statement, you should be certain that this statement is

relevant to your speech topic.

If you are unable to capture the attention and interest of your audience during the speech introduction, you

risk losing the audience.

Erica begins her speech by saying, "Men in the audience: please stand up. Now I'll ask every other man, starting from this side of each row, to please sit down. Thank you. Those of you still standing represent 1 out of every 2 men in the class. As it happens, that is the proportion of men who will develop some type of invasive cancer in his lifetime." Erica has captured her listeners' attention by

startling the audience.

Karissa is giving a speech about malaria to her class. In her introduction she says, "According to the World Health Organization, about 3.4 billion people—almost one-half the world's population—are at risk for contracting malaria." Karissa is capturing the audience's attention by

stating the importance of her topic.

Fatima is giving a speech on the three uses of apostrophes and ends her speech by saying, "In conclusion, we have looked at the important role of apostrophes in the English language. You now know that apostrophes can indicate possession, form a contraction, and indicate time and measurements." Fatima has

summarized her main points to end her speech.

An effective technique to use in the conclusion of your speech to reinforce the central idea is to refer to

the introduction.